b'Planting the Seeds with Dr. Emily Street, Director ofClinical Services, California AreaYouth Regional Treatment Centers graduate from school, they are still required toWere planting the seeds and when they enroll in an internship program or attendreturn to their own communities for wrap vocational education courses to ensure they arearound services, we see them as the ones prepared to continue a productive life once theywho will water the flowers and help them return to their communities.grow.We get kids from all over the country, and,A beautiful way to describe the philosophy of the we dont believe in the one size fits allSacred Oaks Healing Center and the Desert approach." Sage Youth Wellness Center two Indian HealthServices California Area Youth Treatment To that end, it was important to have a full-timeCenters. Spearheading these efforts is Dr. Emily Cultural/Recreation Specialist that addressesStreeter, the Director of Clinical Services. The how the residents are being engaged inTribal Youth Resource Center was fortunate purposeful, meaningful indigenous practices asenough to host the Treatment Centers as an part of their treatment. They have adopted theinformational vendor at the 2022 OJJDP Tribal White Bison curriculum, Mending Broken Hearts,Youth National Conference, where they offered and incorporated the 12 Step Medicine Wheel.resources and answered questions through the They have Talking Circles, Sweat Lodges, holisticduration of the event. cleansing ceremonies among some of the waysto engage the residents into their own culturalBoth facilities serve justice-involved Native roots as a foundation for their healing journey.American youth of all genders in the age rangeof 12-17 years old. However, the caveat is they Our residents often come to uscontinue the services after 18 years old if the disconnected, not knowing who they are. resident began their treatment at 17 years old.The program is based on a Level System, with the Incorporating the help of the community, theEntry Level beginning with orientation and youth are also involved with local activities suchculminating the completion of Level 5, where the as Powwows, Agave Roasts, and other activitiesexpectation is there will be no issues of that encourage the return to the environment asbehavioral problems for 4 weeks. The length of a source of healing. Though they tailor much ofstay is an average of 4 months, and each the information to the youths individualresident progresses through each level; this also background, programs such as beading andincludes attending school for half of the day. The leatherwork also provide them an opportunity toremainder of the day is dedicated to therapy continue their personal work into their ownsessions along with group sessions. If theycultures. 23'